Ashok Chavan on 19 MLAs suspended

New Delhi [India], Mar 23 (ANI): Expressing grave concern over the suspension of 19 MLAs till December 31 in connection with the uproar in the Maharashtra Assembly on March 18 during the budget announcement, former chief minister Ashok Chavan on Thursday said the BJP-led government must have resolve the issue instead of taking such an extreme step.

Chavan said the Maharashtra Government has forbidden the elected representatives of the people from entering the house.

"The NCP and the Congress has been raising their voices in support of the farmers. Our demand is that the loan taken by the suffering farmers in the state of Maharashtra should be written off. But the government has taken an extreme step by suspending all MLAs, who raised this issue," said Chavan.

"This issue should be resolved. When such incidents take place, it is the duty of the Chief Minister and the Speaker to call on the MLAs and resolve the issue but instead they have been trying to crush the voice of the people," he added.

As many as 19 MLAs were suspended by Speaker Haribhau Bagade till December 31 in connection with the uproar in the Maharashtra Assembly on March 18 during the budget announcement.

Expressing disappointment over the announcement made by Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in the state budget for 2017-18, the opposition MLAs burnt copies of the same outside the assembly on March 18.

Despite demands from the Shiv Sena and other opposition parties, Mungantiwar did not make any announcement on the loan waiver for farmers.

The government, however, allocated Rs. 8, 233 crore for various irrigation projects for the farmers.

"Maharashtra's growth rate for 2016-17 was 9.4 percent and we aim to take this at least in double digit in the coming year (2017-18). For farmers, Rs. 8,233 crores has been allocated for water resources and Rs. 2,812 crore has been allocated for Prime Minister's irrigation scheme proposed for year 2017-18," Mungantiwar said while reading out the budget. (ANI)